Folding stands



A. L. PEGGS FOLDING STANDS Oct. 10, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16, 1966 INVENTORI- ALBERT L. PEGGS ATTORNEY A. L. PEGGS FOLDING STANDS Oct. 10, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 16, 1966 FIG. 9. 96

INVENTOR: ALBERT L. PEGGS ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,346,317 Patented Get. 10, 1967 The invention relates to folding stands and more particularly to folding stands capable of folding into a package that is substantially flat.

The stand of the invention solves the problems attendant conventional folding stands wherein component parts must be assembled and disassembled each time a stand is erected or collapsed. The invention provides a folding stand wherein parts remain mutually attached in either erected or folded condition. Additionally, the stand affords sturdiness not possible with like materials in conventional folding stands.

The invention contemplates a folding stand that comprises first and second risers, lower and upper shelves and hinge means at each juncture of riser and shelf. Vertical supports attached in hinged fashion near the ends of the first riser support the shelves at different levels. A pair of spaced support registry blocks on the lower shelf and a pair of spacing locking blocks on the upper shelf register and lock the vertical supports with respect to the risers and shelves. Preferably the registry and locking blocks are oriented with respect to the hinge lines of the risers and shelves so that the vertical supports are skewed with respect to the extent of the risers and shelves. The supports being skewed, the distance between the supports is lessened in the depth of each shelf, and the shelf can hear more weight than if the supports extended perpendicularly to the risers.

In a preferred form of the invention those risers above the first riser may each contain an auxiliary self surface which is cut from the riser itself and can be turned down out of the plane of the riser to rest upon bearing surfaces on the vertical supports. Preferably the cuts defining the ends of the auxiliary shelf surface extend from the hinge line to the lower shelf and the risers such that the shelf surface, when moved down, becomes an extension of the lower shelf.

The folding stand of the invention may be used for semi-permanent display shelves in retail establishments, for temporary sales displays in private homes, for storage, as benches and as a bench and desk combination. The folding stand may be made from materials such as expanded metal, wood, corrugated aluminum sheet or laminar sheets of plastic or cardboard.

While the preferred embodiment has two shelves or display surfaces, the invention may be embodied in a folding stand having three or more shelves.

Accessories, such as vertical pegboard display surfaces and intermediate shelves, may be used with the display stand of the invention. Casters or glides may be used on the bottom surfaces of the vertical supports and the first riser to make the stand mobile when erected or when folded.

These and other advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description and drawing, in which like parts have been given like reference characters, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation, partly broken away, of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation to a larger scale taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C illustrate in schematic prspective the successive steps in erecting the stand of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional elevation of an alternate embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fiat pattern of a further alternate embodiment of the invention made from a single laminar sheet;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section of a preferred laminar sheet; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a bench and desk combination in accordance with the invention.

The embodiment of FIGS. l-4 comprises a display stand 11 having first and second vertical risers 12 and 13 hinged to display shelves 14 and 15 by hinges 17, 18, 19, best seen in FIG. 4. The risers and shelves are preferably of plywood sheets, although, as heretofore stated, they may be of many different materials. The first riser is cut out at 21 for the sake of appearance and to lighten the stand. In the areas on both sides of the cut-out, a vertical support 23, 24 is secured to the first riser by a vertical hinge, such as the hinge 26 of FIG. 4. Each vertical support has a cut-out area 27 for the sake of appearance and lightness.

Each vertical support has a lower support surface 31 and an upper support surface 32 giving each support a stepped appearance. Shelf 14 rests upon the surfaces 31. Shelf 15 rests upon the surfaces 32.

A pair of spaced registry blocks 34, 35 is secured to the underside of first self 14. The registry blocks extend at an angle to the line of hinge 17. A pair of spaced U- shaped locking blocks 37, 38 is secured to the underside of shelf 15. A slot 39 of each locking block extends at the same angle with respect to hinge 17, as do the registry blocks 34, 35 of the first shelf. The registry and locking blocks determine the skewness of the vertical supports 23, 24, as can be seen from FIG. 3. The skew angle A is preferably more than 15. The greater the angle the less the unsupported distance between the outer ends 41 of the vertical supports, thus increasing the load that can be borne by upper shelf 15.

In the preferred embodiment, an auxiliary shelf 44 is incised from the central area of riser 13. A plurality of hinges 45 secures the auxiliary shelf to shelf 14. When the folding stand is folded into the configuration shown in FIG. 5A, the shelf 44 has the position shown in FIG. 1, where it is coplanar with riser 13. As shown in FIG. 4, shelf is folded down to rest upon a support cleat 47 on each vertical support. The hinges 45 are preferably aligned with the hinges 18 such that the auxiliary shelf becomes an extension of shelf 14. The ends of the shelf are at the same angle to the hinge lines of hinges 45 as are the registry blocks to the hinge lines of hinges 17.

In FIG. 4 the vertical supports are shown with casters 49 attached in conventional fashion to the lower portion of the supports. Glides or other footed means may be used.

The hinges and proportions of the risers and the shelves are such that the display stand 11 may be folded into the flat configuration shown in FIG. 5A. In that figure a display stand 51 which differs from the display stand of FIGS. 1-4 in that its vertical supports are hinged at the outer edges of the first riser, is folded fiat by doubling the upper riser and shelf against the lower riser and shelf, then folding the vertical supports into flat relationship to the first riser and first shelf. In erecting the display stand, vertical supports 23, 24 are swung away from riser 12 and shelf 14 about their hinges 26, as shown in FIG. 5B. Shelf 14 is then swung into supported position on support surface 31 of each of the vertical supports and the vertical supports pushed inwardly until they contact registry blocks 34, 35 on the underside of first shelf 14. The orientation of the vertical supports to the hinge lines of supports. 7

Because of the skewness of the vertical supports and the close fit of the locking blocks about the vertical supports, great resistance to forward motion of shelf 15 is inherent in the structure. Thus greater rigidity is achieved because of the particular relationship between the attitude of the vertical supports and the hinge lines of the risers and shelves. To fold or collapse the display stand from the erected position shownin FIG. 1, it is only necessary to reverse the steps described with respect to FIGS. 5A5C. Because the vertical supports are stepped, the registry blocks do not interfere with the flat folding of the supports against the first shelf and riser. The locking blocks become external when the upper riser and shelf are folded about hinge 18 into surface to surface contact with the lower riser and shelf.

The positions of the vertical support hinge points with respect to the ends of the first riser are determined by considerations such as the amount of weight that the unsupported area of each shelf must support and by the depth of the shelves. Obviously, the depth of the shelves determines the width of the vertical supports. If the combined width of the vertical supports exceeds the length of the shelves, then obviously the vertical supports must overlap in order to have a compact folded configuration. It may be necessary that one of the support hinges be displaced slightly from the back surface of the first riser in order for the vertical supports to properly overlap.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which the riser height differs from the shelf depth. However, the combined depth of each riser and shelf pair is the same. That is, the sum of dimensions H and D is equal to the sum of the dimensions H and D for their respective uppermost and lowermost risers and shelves for the embodiment of FIG. 6. Therefore, when folded the risers and shelves are in flat parallel relationship without extending one beyond the other. However, the vertical supports 24A project above the top line of the folded risers and shelves/This would also be true if the embodiment of FIG. 6 had four display shelves instead of three. 7

While it is not necessary for the risers and shelves to have particular ratio of height and depth, it is preferred that the height and depth sum of each riser and shelf pair be equal so that the folded display stand or other device in accordance with the invention iscompact.

In FIG. 7 a display stand 61 is fabricated from a laminar sheet 62 which has vertical support portions 64, 65 and first and second risers 66, 67 with first and second shelves 68, 69. Registry blocks 71 are stapled to the underside of shelf 68. Locking blocks 73 are stapled or otherwise secured to the bottom surface of shelf 69. Scored or impressed hinge lines such as the hinge line 75 between second riser 67 and second shelf 69 provide for articulation between the various shelf, riser and vertical support components.

Stififeners 78 may be stapled at the feet of the vertical supports and at the other points of ground contact'of the display stand 61. An auxiliary shelf 79 may be in integral with second riser 67 and when the flat sheet 62 of FIG. 7 is erected into the configuration of the embodiment of FIG. '1 the auxiliary shelf may be supported upon cut-out 'flaps 81 of each'vertical support 64, 65.

' Preferably, the laminar sheet 62 is of corrugated cardboard. The sheet may have three layers 83, 84, 85, each comprising a corrugated core adhered to planar outer sheets. Preferably, the corrugated cores, such as the core 86 of middle lamination 84, extend in different directions 4 r in the different laminations, such that the sheet has stiffness in all directions.

As in the previous embodiment, the reg1stry blocks and locking blocks combine with the vertical supports to achieve a rigid structure. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 7 the registry blocks are oriented to contact the outer surface of the vertical supports. This configuration aids in keeping the vertical supports in tight contact with the sloping sides 79A, 79B of the auxiliary shelf and add thus to the stability of the structure.

In FIG. 9 a pair of foldable stands 91, 92 are illustrated in cooperating orientation. Each of the stands has the form of a combined bench and desk. The two structures are substantially identical, each having a first riser 12 and a second riser 13. Riser 12 is hinged to a first shelf 14. Second riser 13 is hinged to shelf 14 and to a second shelf 15. A pair of spaced registry blocks 34, 35 are secured to the bottom surface of shelf 14. A pair of spaced U- shape locking blocks 37, 38 are secured to the bottom surface of shelf 15. Each stand has a pair of vertical supports 94 hinged as at 95 to first riser 12. Each vertical support has a support surface 31 for the first shelf and a sloping support surface 96 for the second shelf. The vertical edge 97 between support surfaces may also slant from the vertical such that riser 13 affords a sloping back rest for the folding stand.

An auxiliary shelf 99 is hingedly secured to the back surface of riser 13. A hinged wing 101 swings outwardly from riser 13 to support the auxiliary shelf, as shown with respect to folding stand 92 of FIG. 9.

As in previous embodiment, the registry blocks and locking blocks secure the vertical supports in skewed relationship with respect to the hinge lines of the risers and shelves. While the vertical supports of the embodiment of FIG. 9 are stepped, the configuration of the back edge of each of the vertical supports differs from the previous embodiments because of the use to which the embodiment of FIG. 9 is put. Each support 94 is cut out, as can materials heretofore mentioned can be used to afford this particular usage, also, providing second shelf 15 has a smooth upper surface conducive to writing. The stands 91, 92 may be used in pairs or in multiplicity of rows. As a readily portable field desk, a single stand may be used in conjunction with a conventional chair or seat.

While only a few modifications have been shown, many other modifications within the scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in this art. Therefore, I wish the invention to be measured by the appended claims, rather than the purely illustrative specification and drawings disclosed heretofore.

I claim:

1. A foldable stand comprising a first vertical riser, a second vertical riser, a lower shelf, an upper shelf, hinge means joining the first riser and the lower shelf, hinge means joining the lower shelf and the second riser, hinge means joining the second riser and the upper shelf, a first vertical support, a second vertical support, bearing surfaces on each vertical support adapted to receive the lower and the upper shelves, support locking meanson the upper shelf, support registry means on the lower shelf, the support locking means being adapted to lock a vertical support in registry against the support registry means,

hinge means joining the first and second vertical supports to the first riser at spaced positions thereon such that the risers, shelves and supports may be folded into mutual parallel relationship.

2. A foldable stand in accordance with claim 1 Wherein the support registry means is oriented with respect to the hinge line of the shelf such that the vertical support defines an acute dihedral angle with the risers.

3. A folding stand in accordance with claim 2 wherein the risers, shelves and vertical supports are encompassed in a single laminate sheet of corrugated cardboard, and having hinge lines formed in the sheet at the juncture of each component with another component, the layers of the sheet having differing corrugation direction patterns.

4. A folding stand in accordance with claim 2 wherein a top horizontal bearing surface on each vertical support slopes downwardly at an angle less than 45 such that the shelf supported thereon affords an inclined writing surface.

5. A folding stand in accordance with claim 2 further comprising a shelf surface integral with the second riser,

hinge means joining the shelf surface to the stand such that the surface is movable out of the plane of the riser, and bearing surfaces on the vertical supports adapted to support the shelf surface when it is moved out of the plane of the riser into a horizontal position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,125,194 1/1915 Sigmund 108100 1,335,397 3/1920 Shawvan et al. 20645 1,514,055 11/1924 Lawson 10810O 1,747,981 2/1930 Marsh 248-174 1,931,521 10/1933 Ziemmerman 108-100 1,947,195 2/1934 Flynn 20645 2,506,237 5/1950 Roach 108100 3,035,671 5/1962 Sicherrnan 52183 JAMES T. MCCALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A FOLDABLE STAND COMPRISING A FIRST VERTICAL RISER, A SECOND VERTICAL RISER, A LOWER SHELF, AN UPPER SHELF, HINGE MEANS JOINING THE FIRST RISER AND THE LOWER SHELF, HINGE MEANS JOINING THE LOWER SHELF AND THE SECOND RISER, HINGE MEANS JOINING THE SECOND RISER AND THE UPPER SHELF, A FIRST VERTICAL SUPPORT, A SECOND VERTICAL SUPPORT, BEARING SURFACES ON EACH VERTICAL SUPPORT ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE LOWER AND THE UPPER SHELVES, SUPPORT LOCKING MEANS ON THE UPPER SHELF, SUPPORT REGISTRY MEANS ON THE LOWER SHELF, THE SUPPORT LOCKING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO LOCK A VERTICAL SUPPORT IN REGISTRY AGAINST THE SUPPORT REGISTRY MEANS, HINGE MEANS JOINING THE FIRST AND SECOND VERTICAL SUPPORTS TO THE FIRST RISER AT SPACED POSITIONS THEREON SUCH THAT THE RISERS, SHELVES AND SUPPORTS MAY BE FOLDED INTO MUTUAL PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP. 